How does the new coronavirus compare with the flu?

Which virus is deadlier?

The coronavirus seems to be more deadly than the flu — so far.

On average, seasonal flu strains kill about 0.1 percent of people who become infected. The 1918 flu had an unusually high fatality rate, around 2 percent. Because it was so contagious, that flu killed tens of millions of people.

Early estimates of the coronavirus death rate from China were about 2 percent. But a later report on 1,099 cases from many parts of China, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, found a lower rate: 1.4 percent.

In a recent speech, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, asserted that the global case fatality rate for people infected with coronavirus was 3.4 percent, a startling figure.

What is involved in testing for the coronavirus? Is it the same as when they do a nasal swab for influenza?

– Julie from Chicago, Illinois

To collect a sample for a diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease, doctors typically use the same method of collection as they would for influenza: a nasopharyngeal swab. For this swab, a tiny Q-tip on plastic or a wire stem is put up your nose about 3 or 4 inches.

«I’ve had it done, and it’s mildly uncomfortable for a few seconds,» said Gregory Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group.

A doctor may also do a throat swab. In some cases, if you have a «wet» cough, a doctor may also have you cough up some phlegm into a collection cup. These specimen are then packed with ice and shipped to a lab for testing.

To determine if someone has recovered from the coronavirus, at least two different nasal swabs taken at least 24 hours apart must test negative, Poland said.

How many children have been diagnosed with the virus? How many of them have died?

– Rosemary from Ventura, California

Among the more than 4,000 cases in the U.S. as of March 16, only 5% were people aged 0–19 years, according to the CDC. Just 2%–3% of cases in that age group had to be hospitalized, and none were in the ICU.

This week, however, health officials reported that a 17-year-old teen in New Orleans died after contracting the virus. And a 2-month-old in Nashville who tested positive for the virus could be the youngest patient in the nation, officials say. In China, at least one two-day-old infant had been infected, according to a WHO study.

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Coronavirus can be scary to adults, but for kids it can be even more difficult to comprehend. Here’s a little expert advice about how to discuss it.

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Treatment, vaccines, and prevention

The first and most major difference between the flu and novel coronavirus, is how little we know about the latter—which plays into into the absence of treatment and vaccines for COVID-19. «People often compare the flu to COVID-19, but we have a vaccine to prevent and medications to treat the flu. Right now, we have no medications or vaccine for COVID-19,» says Dr. Juthani.

The influenza vaccine, for example, was first licensed for use in civilians in 1945—and now, doctors recommend all people over six months old get the flu shot each year, ideally as early as the end of October. Treatment for the flu is also an option, with antiviral medications like Tamiflu, which can shorten the amount of time you’re sick and prevent flu complications like pneumonia. But, for Tamiflu to work effectively, it needs to be taken with in the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms—and most flu cases are so mild they may not even need treatment other than rest and symptom management.

Scientists are currently working on a coronavirus vaccine. But as Jeremy Brown, MD, director of the Office of Emergency Care Research at the National Institutes of Health and author of Influenza: The Hundred-Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History, previously told Health, the entire vaccine process—from early development through human testing—can take a lot of time and cost a lot of money. Fortunately, in working on a vaccine for the current coronavirus, researchers may discover clues that may help treat or even prevent future outbreaks.

At this point, the best options for keeping yourself infection-free is following the CDC’s recommendations for all respiratory illnesses. That includes washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; not touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; maintaining social distancing; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; staying home when you are sick; wearing a cloth mask, and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

RELATED: A Coronavirus ‘Super-Spreader’ May Have Infected At Least 11 People With the Virus—Here’s How That Happens

Why is this virus being treated differently to the flu?

You may be wondering why COVID-19 is being treated differently than the flu and other respiratory viruses. Let’s explore this a little more.

Lack of immunity

COVID-19 is caused by a new type of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Prior to its identification in late 2019, both the virus and the disease it causes were unknown. The exact source of the new coronavirus is unknown, though it’s believed to have an animal origin.

Unlike seasonal flu, the population as a whole doesn’t have much, if any, preexisting immunity to SARS-CoV-2. That means that it’s completely new to your , which will have to work harder to generate a response to fight the virus.

Additionally, it’s currently unclear if people who’ve had COVID-19 can get it again. Future research will help to determine this.

Severity and mortality

COVID-19 is generally more severe than the flu. Data to date suggests that about 20 percent of people with COVID-19 experience severe or critical illness, requiring hospitalization and often the administration of oxygen or mechanical ventilation.

Although there are millions of flu cases each year in the United States, a smaller percentage of flu cases are estimated to result in hospitalization.

The results of studies on the exact mortality rate for COVID-19 have so far been varied. This calculation has been dependent on factors like location and population age.

Ranges from 0.25 to 3 percent have been estimated. One study of COVID-19 in Italy, in which almost a quarter of the population is 65 or older, puts the overall rate at 7.2 percent.

Nevertheless, these estimated mortality rates are higher than that of seasonal influenza, which is estimated to be about 0.1 percent.

Rate of transmission

Although studies are currently ongoing, it appears that the reproductive number (R0) for COVID-19 is higher than that of the flu.

R0 is the number of secondary infections that can be generated from a single infected individual. For COVID-19, R0 has been estimated to be 2.2. Estimates put the R0 of seasonal flu at about 1.28.

This information means that a person with COVID-19 can potentially transmit the infection to more people than the number of people someone with the flu can affect.

Treatments and vaccines

A vaccine is available for seasonal flu. It’s updated every year to target the influenza virus strains predicted to be the most common during flu season.

Getting a seasonal flu vaccine is the most effective way to prevent becoming sick with the flu. Although you can still get the flu after being vaccinated, your illness may be milder.

There are also available for the flu. If given early, they may help to lessen symptoms and shorten the amount of time that you’re sick.

There are currently no licensed vaccines available to protect against COVID-19. Additionally, there are no specific medications recommended for treatment of COVID-19. Researchers are hard at work on developing these.

Myth: Vitamin C supplements will stop you from catching COVID-19

Researchers have yet to find any evidence that vitamin C supplements can render people immune to COVID-19 infection. In fact, for most people, taking extra vitamin C does not even ward off the common cold, though it may shorten the duration of a cold if you catch one. 

That said, vitamin C serves essential roles in the human body and supports normal immune function. As an antioxidant, the vitamin neutralizes charged particles called free radicals that can damage tissues in the body. It also helps the body synthesize hormones, build collagen and seal off vulnerable connective tissue against pathogens. 

So yes, vitamin C should absolutely be included in your daily diet if you want to maintain a healthy immune system. But megadosing on supplements is unlikely to lower your risk of catching COVID-19, and may at most give you a «modest» advantage against the virus, should you become infected. No evidence suggests that other so-called immune-boosting supplements — such as zinc, green tea or echinacea — help to prevent COVID-19, either. 

Be wary of products being advertised as treatments or cures for the new coronavirus. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began in the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have already for selling fraudulent products that promise to cure, treat or prevent the viral infection. 

Как проявляется коронавирус у человека

У многих взрослых и детей коронавирус протекает как простуда или грипп, но самочувствие при этом несколько хуже. То есть – у приблизительно 80% заболевших COVID-19 наблюдают в легкой форме. В этом случае какой-либо специфической терапии врачи не назначают, а проводят симптоматическое лечение, выписывая препараты исходя из жалоб своих пациентов. Но приблизительно 1 из 6 заболевших переносит коронавирусную инфекцию в тяжелой форме – с развитием дыхательной недостаточности. Если человек в преклонном возрасте, при этом у него есть хронические болезни сердечно-сосудистой, дыхательной систем или диабет, вероятность тяжелого течения COVID-19 у него повышается.

У взрослых

По информации ВОЗ, главные симптомы коронавируса – затрудненность дыхания, лихорадка и кашель без отделения мокроты. Также эксперты сообщают, что внезапная потеря вкуса либо обоняния потенциально указывает на COVID-19. Так, коронавирус у взрослого человека проявляется следующими симптомами:

• рост показателей температуры тела – приблизительно в 90% случаев;
• одышка – порядка 55%;
• кашель – сухой либо с небольшим количеством отделяемой мокроты – 80%;
• чувство сдавленности в груди – до 20%.

Перечисленная симптоматика актуальна для молодых людей. Редко (у менее 10% заболевших) без повышения температуры проявления коронавирусной инфекции бывают такие:

• головные боли;
• расстройство пищеварения;
• тошнота и позывы ко рвоте;
• ощущение усиленного сердцебиения;
• кровохарканье.

Подозреваете ли у себя коронавирус на данный момент?
Да, все признаки имеются 29.87%

Да, и это уже точно 10.37%

Да, но больше склоняюсь к тому, что это обычная простуда 31.29%

Нет 28.47%
Проголосовало: 3656

У детей

У детей коронавирусная инфекция также проявляется на начальном этапе повышением температуры и кашлем. Тем не менее есть и другая симптоматика:

• диарея и другие проблемы с ЖКТ;
• головные боли;
• заложенность носа;
• отсутствие обоняния либо вкуса;
• болезненность в области груди;
• боли в мышцах.

По данным наблюдений, в детском возрасте коронавирусная инфекция чаще провоцирует нарушения пищеварительной функции. Тем не менее у подавляющей части детей, у кого был выявлен COVID-19, улучшение состояния происходило уже на следующие сутки с момента возникновения первых проявлений коронавируса. Только малый процент заболевших требует специфического лечения, интенсивной терапии и искусственной вентиляции легких. В подавляющей части случаев у детей болезнь протекает в легкой форме.

Считаете ли вы, что коронавирус не так опасен, как о нем говорят?
Да 25.91%

Нет 56.36%

Затрудняюсь ответить 17.73%
Проголосовало: 4654

How many coronavirus cases are in the UK?

There are now 40 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, and a total of 13,525 tests have been carried out, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health. 

Read More: Coronavirus UK: Authorities search for those who came into contact with first cases

Two of the confirmed cases were from the south Devon area and had become infected while on holiday in northern Italy. Another individual tested positive for coronavirus in Kent after returning from Italy.

Dr James Mapstone, the acting regional director of Public Health England, South of England said: “Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed case. This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public.”

Myth: The virus was probably made in a lab

No evidence suggests that the virus is man-made. SARS-CoV-2 closely resembles two other coronaviruses that have triggered outbreaks in recent decades, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, and all three viruses seem to have originated in bats. In short, the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 fall in line with what we know about other naturally occurring coronaviruses that made the jump from animals to people.

A study published March 17 in the journal Nature Medicine also provided strong evidence against the «engineered in a lab» idea. The study found that a key part of SARS-CoV-2, known as the spike protein, would almost certainly have emerged in nature and not as a lab creation, Live Science previously reported. What’s more, if scientists were trying to use computer models to engineer a deadly virus based on the original SARS virus, they likely would not have chosen the mutations that actually appear in SARS-CoV-2. That’s because computer simulations show that mutations in SARS-CoV-2 don’t seem to work very well at helping the virus bind to human cells, Live Science previously reported. But it turns out, nature is smarter than scientists, and the novel coronavirus found a way to mutate that was better — and completely different— from anything scientists could have predicted or created, the study found.  

What is the risk facing the UK?

The government has now declared that coronavirus is a “serious and imminent threat”, which will give doctors more powers to forcibly isolate suspected coronavirus cases.

The risk to the UK in general has risen from low to moderate, but the risk to individuals remains low, the Department of Health said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson today convened a Cobra meeting to discuss the spread of infection in the UK and a plan will be announced tomorrow. 

Johnson urged people to “go about business as usual” and that the country was “very, very well-prepared”. But he added it was “likely” that the disease would spread.

“We’ve agreed a plan so that if and when it starts to spread, as I’m afraid it looks likely it will, we are in a position to take the steps that will be necessary,” he said this morning.

Read more: MWC 2020: Sony becomes latest tech firm to pull out due to coronavirus

The national response will relate to “all four parts of the UK”, his spokesman added. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon was among those to take part in the Cobra meeting remotely.

The government has advised all UK nationals to leave China where possible, and passengers that have travelled from Wuhan or Hubei province were told to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people and inform the NHS of their travel to the area.

It has also said that travellers returning from Iran, lockdown areas in Northern Italy and South Korea should call NHS 111 and self isolate even if they do not have symptoms. 

Britain has started random tests for the virus on flu patients in order to have an early warning system in place. Public Health England’s medical director, Paul Cosford, told the BBC: “We’re heightening our vigilance because of the apparent spread of the virus in countries outside of mainland China”. 

Can someone get the coronavirus more than once?

– Randi from Arizona

Scientists aren’t sure yet. For many viruses, including the MERS virus, patients are unlikely to be re-infected shortly after they recover because a protective antibody is generated in those who are infected. But scientists still need to do more research to determine if this is also the case with COVID-19 and how long those antibodies may last.

«However, in certain individuals, the antibody cannot last that long. For many patients who have been cured, there is a likelihood of relapse,» said Li QinGyuan, director of pneumonia prevention and treatment at China Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing.

Poland agreed, saying the chance of reinfection is «very likely.»

Consider this: I’m an epidemiologist. Here’s what I told my friends about the coronavirus and COVID-19.

Symptoms and severity

Both seasonal flu viruses (which include influenza A and influenza B viruses) and COVID-19 are contagious viruses that cause respiratory illness. 

Typical flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, headaches, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue and, sometimes, vomiting and diarrhea, . Flu symptoms often come on suddenly. Most people who get the flu will recover in less than two weeks. But in some people, the flu causes complications, including pneumonia. The overall hospitalization rate in the U.S. for flu this season is about 69 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, according to the CDC.

With COVID-19, doctors are still trying to understand the full picture of disease symptoms and severity. Reported symptoms in patients have varied from mild to severe, and can include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. Other symptoms may include fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell. COVID-19 symptoms appear to come on more gradually than those of flu, .

Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions, including heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, appear to be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19, compared with people in younger age groups and those without underlying conditions.

The overall hospitalization rate for COVID-19 in the U.S. is about 50 hospitalizations per 100,000 people as of May 8, although the hospitalization rate for adults ages 65 and older is higher, at 162 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, according to the CDC. (However, because fewer people have likely gotten COVID-19 in the U.S. than have gotten the flu, the odds of becoming hospitalized if you have a confirmed case of COVID-19 are thought to be higher than the odds of being hospitalized with influenza.)

Children are a high risk group for complications from flu, but this doesn’t seem to be the case for COVID-19 — few children have been hospitalized with the new coronavirus. A study of published March 18 found that, among 4,226 reported cases, at least 508 people (12%) were hospitalized, and of these, less than 1% were younger than 20 years old. 

But recently, COVID-19 has been linked to a rare but serious inflammatory syndrome in children, called  pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome. New York City has confirmed 100 cases of the syndrome in children, according to .

It’s important to note that, because respiratory viruses cause similar symptoms, it can be difficult to distinguish different respiratory viruses based on symptoms alone, .

Related: Can homemade masks protect you from COVID-19?

Coronavirus science and news

—Coronavirus in the US: Map & cases
—What are coronavirus symptoms?—How long does coronavirus last on surfaces?—Can people spread the coronavirus after they recover?

Myth: Pets can spread the new coronavirus

Although pets may contract COVID-19 in rare cases, there is no evidence they can spread it to people.

There have been a few reports of cats and dogs that became infected with COVID-19 after contact with their sick owner. For example, in April, two pet cats in New York tested positive for COVID-19, and the owner of one of these cats was confirmed to have COVID-19 before the cat showed symptoms, Live Science previously reported.

Even if pets do occasionally become infected, the says there is no evidence that they are playing a significant role in the spread of the virus. And so far, there have been no confirmed reports of people contracting the disease from pets.

Just in case, the CDC recommends that people with COVID-19 have someone else walk and care for their companion animals while they are sick. And people should always wash their hands after snuggling with animals anyway, as companion pets can spread other diseases to people, according to the CDC. 

Symptoms

The symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 have some differences.

People who have the flu will typically experience symptoms within 1–4 days. The symptoms for COVID-19 can develop between 1–14 days. However, according to 2020 research, the median incubation period for COVID-19 is 5.1 days.As a point of comparison, the incubation period for a cold is 1–3 days.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar in both children and adults. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children typically present with fever and mild, cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose and a cough.

The following table outlines the symptoms of COVID-19, the flu, and a cold.

Differences: COVID-19 and the Flu

Cause

COVID-19: Caused by the 2019 coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-2.

Flu: Caused by any of several different types and strains of influenza viruses. Different strains circulate each year.

Symptoms

COVID-19: Many people infected with the coronavirus do not feel sick or have any symptoms at all, but they can still transmit the coronavirus to other people. Review the full list of symptoms.

Unlike the flu, COVID-19 can sometimes cause a person to suddenly lose their sense of smell (anosmia) or taste (ageusia).

Flu: Flu does not typically affect a person’s sense of smell or taste.

Treatment

COVID-19: Antiviral medications and other therapies are being tested to see if they can effectively address symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness. Currently, effective treatments are only available in an intravenous form, so they are not prescribed to patients outside of a hospital setting.

Flu: Oral antiviral medications can address symptoms and sometimes shorten the duration of the illness. Because they are given by mouth, these antiviral therapies can be prescribed for patients who are not hospitalized as well as for those in the hospital.

Vaccine

COVID-19: No vaccine is available at this time, though development and testing are in progress.

Flu: A vaccine is available and effective in preventing some of the most dangerous types or to reduce the severity or duration of the flu. It is very important to get vaccinated for the flu this year.

How long does the virus live on an object like a dollar bill?

 – John from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Depending on the type of surface, the virus can stay on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days, according to the WHO. A recent study by scientists in the U.S. found that viable virus could be detected up to three hours later in the air, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. 

However, a subsequent report from the CDC found that genetic material from the virus can live on surfaces for more than two weeks. The CDC found traces of the virus’ RNA, not the coronavirus itself, on surfaces in the cabins of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infected passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship – 17 days after passengers had left the cabins.

It’s possible that you can become infected if you touch your face after touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, according to the CDC. But scientists don’t think surfaces are the main way that the virus spreads; the most common form of infection is from respiratory droplets spread by a person’s cough or sneeze, the CDC reports.

Meanwhile, the WHO says it is very unlikely that the virus will persist on a surface after being moved, traveled and exposed to different conditions and temperatures. That means the virus cannot spread through goods manufactured in China or any country reporting coronavirus cases.

At the same time, the WHO is reportedly encouraging people to use as many digital payment options as possible. Viruses can survive on hard surfaces like coins for days in some cases. U.S dollars, a blend of fabric and paper, are harder for viruses to stick to.

Coronavirus prevention: Health officials say not to touch your face. That’s harder than it sounds – even for them.